In particular people are now far less likely to die of heart attacks than they were 10 years ago, thanks primarily to better emergency care but also to healthier lifestyles.

Death rates from heart attacks have halved in a decade, an Oxford University study published in January showed. The decline has been steepest among those suffering heart attacks in middle age.

With more people surviving to old age, more are living to develop various types of cancer.

Duleep Allirajah, head of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “It is worrying to see that the proportion of cancer deaths has risen making it the biggest killer in England and Wales for 2011.

“In light of these figures it is absolutely vital that the NHS in England is measured against cancer survival rates.

“The Government and the NHS Commissioning Board must take heed of the ONS figures and ensure one-year and five-year survival indicators for all cancers are included in their relevant outcomes frameworks.

“This will provide a strong incentive for the NHS to improve in this area.”

Although cancer has become the number one cause of death, survival rates for almost all cancers are improving and have been improving for years, due to better diagnosis and treatment.

However, ministers admit British survival rates are not as good as the best-performing European countries.

They estimate another 5,000 lives a year could be saved if rates were brought into line with the likes of Sweden and Germany.